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Finally on the mend and starting to almost feel myself after this spinal disc fusion surgery thing. Long story short – it worked great and by the end of March I can probably start to carry my own amplifier again. Back to work in a week or so and back to a normal grind.

Speaking of backs…The band has had a few rehearsals and we will be back out playing shows again in March. We also have back to back shows at Bernice’s the 22nd and 23rd. then back to Honky Tonk BBQ for a Switchyard Sessions CD Release…See how I did that. All shows are FREE.

Sat March 9th -Blue Island Beer Co. (W/ Jimbo Delta)

Friday March 22nd Bernice’s Tavern (w/ Otto and the Moaners)

Saturday March 23nd Bernice’s Tavern(w/Otto and the Moaners)

Saturday April 13th Honky Tonk BBQ(Switchyard Sessions Album Release)

Switchyard Sessions Release Schedule – All streaming platforms. If you are a Spotify User can you Pretty Pretty Please “Hyper-Follow” the on Spotify- Just Click link for each. This really helps prime the Spotify Algorithm and helps the song get out of the gates so to speak. It would be a great help if I can get a few clicks.

As some of you know I have switched my email list. Soon I will be releasing an “Album Experience” component. Links to each song from the record complete with an “inside The Song” interview, lyrics, studio cut, download mp3 and some duo performances with myself and Jimbo Delta.

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A little over a year ago I was hosting the open mic at Bernice’s Tavern. I had been hosting and co-hosting it for the last ten years. One thing about your local open mic is the element of surprise. Once in a great while someone will walk in you’ve never heard or met and simply move you. Walsh is exactly that guy.

Usually an artist will woodshed for a time practicing songs they’ve written and get themselves to a point that they think they should go try them out on someone besides their Aunt Kate. Aunt Kate is totally cool but you can’t meet girls playing your guitar in Aunt Kate’s kitchen. Over time you will see the regular open mic players come in week after week, slowly getting better and like in a year or so they end up getting a band together or basically get good enough they leave the nest and eventually move on to regular gigs of their own. It’s really cool to see the progress.

Now I don’t know alot about Ryan other than he walked in with the shitiest god forsaken guitar I think I’ve ever seen. The whole back end of it was peeled off and was like a diving board. Seems this kid was busking his summers away between college semesters at UIC. Who needs internships when you can breath in the life of a city on the streets. I did the exact same thing when I was going there 15 years previous. This kid had a twinkle in his eye that only the Irish get, That’s all I can say.

The night was just right, It had slowed down enough that the few that were in the bar were listening attentively. Which if you didn’t know, is the best case scenario. Well everyone but one person who was too drunk to know that a young kid that played great and sang like Chet Baker was singing.

I was instantly taken aback. This kid must be like 23 and he plays not good, but very good. Sings not good, but very good and unique as well. I promptly got on the phone with my favorite sound engineer nerd “The Captain” Jaime Gartelos. I told him that there’s a kid in here that we need to record. I figured if his guitar is split down the back and he’s busking on the streets during school breaks he more than likely doesn’t have any recordings. Jaime asked me why I was doing this, and I replied “I have to, he’s a talent.” This kid is in his young 20’s. If I had money and time I’d manage him, be his booking agent and buy him a van to make the rounds in.

He was fluid in the songs he was singing and it would be an optimal time to capture them. I got his number and told him that we needed to record a few of his songs immediately. He said when? How’s tomorrow sound? It took some convincing, I imagine he thought I was nuts.

Here are the four songs we tracked at Jaime’s apartment. He walked in, I handed him my guitar and he knocked out four songs. I think he nailed the first take of each one, I believe we maybe did two takes of each song just in case. Perfect every time. You may want to turn this up a bit as these are unmastered tracks. Enjoy. Ryan will be opening for me this Saturday at Blue Island Beer Co. 7pm. FREE SHOW

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This Saturday March 24 we’ll be playing at my favorite dive bar on the Southside, Bernice’s Tavern.

We lost Bernice last year but her boys still keep the coolers running and the mix of locals and kool kids keep coming in. Settle in at this joint for a couple a pops and you’ll see why this little bar is consistently ranked as one of the best dive’s in the city. The routine at B’s? Stingo on Wednesday, Open Mic on Thursday, Mike’s night on Friday and Bands on Saturday leaves Sunday available for Steve’s crazy Bloody Marys. How do I know all this? Well, you can just say that a friend of mine told me.

We will get started at 9:30 with a mini solo set from myself, Jimbo Delta and BC Carter. Then a full set with the band.